Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.
This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.
Don't freak out
This is a rule you should continue to follow no matter what you do in life, but is especially helpful in this situation.
Email the professor
Around this time, professors are getting flooded with requests from students wanting to get into full classes. This doesn't mean you shouldn't burden them with your email; it means they are expecting interested students to email them. Send a short, concise message telling them that you are interested in the class and ask if there would be any chance for you to get in.
Attend the first class
people sitting on chair in front of computerOften, the advice professors will give you when they reply to your email is to attend the first class. The first class isn't the most important class in terms of what will be taught. However, attending the first class means you are serious about taking the course and aren't going to give up on it.
Keep attending class
Every student is in the same position as you are. They registered for more classes than they want to take and are "shopping." For the first couple of weeks, you can drop or add classes as you please, which means that classes that were once full will have spaces. If you keep attending class and keep up with assignments, odds are that you will have priority. Professors give preference to people who need the class for a major and then from higher to lower class year (senior to freshman).
Have a backup plan
For two weeks, or until I find out whether I get into my waitlisted class, I will be attending more than the usual number of classes. This is so that if I don't get into my waitlisted class, I won't have a credit shortage and I won't have to fall back in my backup class. Chances are that enough people will drop the class, especially if it is very difficult like computer science, and you will have a chance. In popular classes like art and psychology, odds are you probably won't get in, so prepare for that.
Remember that everything works out at the end
Life is full of surprises. So what if you didn't get into the class you wanted? Your life obviously has something else in store for you. It's your job to make sure you make the best out of what you have.
Want to know more about the college experience?
Our community has you covered with these relatable topics:
- Why Registering For College Courses Are The Worst: It's way more painful that it needs to be
- Why Mental Health is So Important During Finals: It's stress on top of stress on top of stress
- Breaking Down in College is Normal, Trust Me: It happens to everyone when you least expect it
- Why The "College Experience" Is Different For Everybody: It doesn't have to be all about partying
- I Asked 31 Students What The 'College Experience' Means To Them: From making connections to dorm life
- My Dream Law School Waitlisted Me And That May Have Been A Blessing ›
- 13 Struggles Of Scheduling College Classes ›
- 11 Thoughts You Have After Forgetting To Schedule Your Classes ›
- 11 Thoughts You Have After Forgetting To Schedule Your Classes ›
- Navigate Class Registration: 25 Common Thoughts | The Odyssey Online ›
- The 12 Stages Of Course Registration, As Told By "Friends" | The Odyssey Online ›
- What's the best way to get off a waitlist for a college class? - Quora ›
- If you're waitlisted for a class, does it actually help to email the ... ›
- How to Manage Your Waitlisted Courses | Fresno City College ›
- What to Do if You're Waitlisted for a Class - Varsity Tutors Blog ›
- 5 Things to Do When You're Waitlisted for a Class | University of ... ›
